A/N: This is a good chapter in my opinion. It could be better but I like it. I hope you guys do as well.~ sci-fi

Chapter 13: What a show.

"We need to decide Heart!" Scootaloo gave Heart's Vision an annoyed look.

Heart ducked his head. "I'm sorry Scoot I just don't know what you want me to say. I don't really care what the wedding is like. I just want to be with you. I don't care..." Heart looked at the book laying in front of them. "What color the invitation cards are? Why the fuck does that matter? Which pony thought of this?"

"This is a dead end. I will pick it. Ok so what kind of cake do you want?"

"One with sugar?"

"I am going to hit you."

"Look I really don't know. I am not trying to be mean. You pick the cake. You pick the decorations. You pick what you want. I have already picked what I want. I picked you and that is all I care about."

Scootaloo wasn't that mad. She knew he was being truthful, not just buttering her up. "Ok, I will take care of this. You owe me. Not only are you not helping me pick you are making me deal with Rarity."

"I owe you. I am sorry that I can't help."

"I'm not worried about it. You are paying for anything I pick."

"What do you mean?"

"This is going to be a wedding to remember. I might not even were white. The Cakes are going to be able to afford a new shop after this. "

Heart shook his head. "Please don't go overboard with it. I don't want to be a buried in bills. I love you Scoot." Heart went to go take care of some preparations.

Scootaloo went to the Rarity's boutique. Rarity expected her to come and was waiting with a her designs out. "Darling I have some designs here waiting for you. I recommend this one." She pointed to a drawing.

Scootaloo shook her head and smiled. "No. I know what I want." Scootaloo went into detail of what she wanted.

Rarity cringed at her ideas. "Are, are you sure? This is very… different than most."

"Oh yeah. This is exactly what I want. Do me a favor and make it fire resistant."

"Why? What are you planning to do?"

Scootaloo grinned. "I just want to have some fun with it. I can only do this once so why not make it a day to remember?"

"Ok if you say so."

Scootaloo left. She had other plans to organize.

Heart waited a few days before bringing up the wedding again. "So what have you got planned?"

Scootaloo smiled. "I have a few thing lined up. I wanted ask you something. Is there any spell that you can put on the invitations?"

"That depends. I can put protection spells on them. If you want some kind of decoration I might be able to do something but I might not."

Scootaloo explained what she wanted and Heart agreed to do it. Heart asked again what she had planned. She told him what she wanted for certain and a few things she wasn't sure about.

Heart was surprised by her ideas. "This is going to surprise our guests Scoot. I like it. I like all of the ideas. I will have to work out a plan for the last one but I want it."

"I thought you would."

"I was curious if you would want a normal ceremony or not. I got my answer."

It was a lot of work but Scootaloo and Heart set up a the wedding. They held it in Ponyville. Celestia had offered for it to be held in Canterlot but Heart and Scootaloo wanted it to be in their home. The day had come and ponies turned in their invitations as told. The guests instantly noticed the churches new paint. The inside of the building had been painted in a unique design. Thick green lines converged at the front the room. It was mimicking Heart coat pattern.

The difference was that where his black heart would have been was a orange one with purple outline. It was a symbol to represent that there was only room in Heart's heart for Scootaloo. The last of the guests came into the building.

Heart watched and smiled. He knew what was about to happen. Every invitation melted. The puddle of paper slithered to the front. It formed a archway above Heart. It was not a plain archway. It was two sleek ponies standing on their hind legs holding hooves. Making sure the other didn't fall. A few ponies had noticed it form and whispered to the others about it.

Heart stood waiting for Scootaloo. All of the rulers had come. Many of Scootaloo's family had come. Heart didn't even know all of them. On the other hoof, Heart only had friends. He had no family. It didn't make him sad. He had wonderful friends and didn't need flesh and blood to make him happy. It did bother him that he had deprived himself of family member. He shoved the thought out of his mind.

Racketeer walked in with Scootaloo. All the ponies turned and watched her walk down the isle. Scootaloo smiled. Flames outlined the isle. The flames came four inches off the ground and were yellow. Ponies gasped as they saw it happen. A deep base started up. It was timed to Scootaloo's hoof steps. Every pony could feel the vibration within them. It created a powerful effect. Scootaloo wore a mostly white dress. The end was red on the outside but golden on the inside. A blue patch with the cutie mark crusaders emblem on it.

Heart had not ever seen the dress before and loved it. He knew why Scootaloo picked it. It looked like the CMC cape. It may have not looked as good as some other dresses but it was meaningful and that was more important to Heart. He still thought that Scootaloo was beautiful.

When Scootaloo reached Heart they both smiled at each other and looked at their guests. Some looked confused. Some were awe struck. Heart wanted to laugh but held it in. Celestia did the ceremony. The two said their vows and the guests thought the odd part of the wedding was over. They were wrong. As the newly wedded kissed Rainbow Dash performed a sonic rainboom over the building. It would have been hard to see but Hear used his magic to curved it to cloak the building. Windows lined the sides and the entire room could see it. The pressure difference caused the windows to shatter. The glass flew inside but a protective barrier kept the guests from harm. A few yelps and screams were heard though.

Both Scootaloo and Heart giggled. Heart faced the ponies. "Now it is time for the real fun!"

Scootaloo agreed. "Yeah it is!"

The ponies filed outside to Vinyl Scratch dubing the place up. As Heart and Scootaloo walked out fireworks and demonstration magic lit the sky. It was just a party to Scootaloo and she loved it. Heart enjoyed it because they threw out the rules in it.

Rainbow Dash came up to Heart. "This was sweet! I would never expect such levels of awesome at a wedding."

Heart thought she would enjoy it. "I hoped you would like it. I don't know about the other ponies though. I think we may have scared them."

"Heck yeah you did. I think I saw one being dragged out because she fainted."

"There is more to enjoy. Go get some sweets before Pinkie devours it all."

"Your right." Rainbow flew off.

Twilight walked up to Heart. "You may have gone a little far Heart."

He waved it off. "Naw. It was mostly Scoots idea anyway. I wanted to make her happy."

"You broke the church."

"I knew that would happen. I already paid for the repairs. It was very colorful too."

"Was the fire needed?"

"I think Scootaloo took a little bit too much from her soap operas. She has developed some flare." Heart did a silly motion with his hoof as he said flare.

Twilight shook her head. "I think she may have just picked up on you. Good luck Heart. I need to go make sure that mare is fine. She fainted from your little stunt." Twilight left.

Heart laughed. "So Rainbow was right! Priceless."

After a short vacation with Scootaloo, Heart and Scootaloo moved in to the Canterlot castle. Heart did his work as an adviser for Celestia. It wasn't a hard job since Heart mostly just had to tell Celestia and the others his opinion on matters. He had to be around Celestia most of the day. If she had a public event or some ceremony Heart had no need to be there and had the day off. This was one of those days.

Heart walked down the castle hallway. A flash came from his right side. He looked and saw a certain draconequus. "Hey Discord. What you up to?"

Little holes appeared all over Discord. "I am bored."

"Literally it seems. So why not go find king Chaotic or something?"

Discord ran swiped his paw over his body turning it into it's normal form. "He is off doing something. Seems I am the only one not doing something today. I was curious if you had plans?"

Heart didn't. He was just going to go read at the library. "Not really. Scootaloo is spending the day with Rainbow Dash. If you want to do something we can."

"That is exactly what I want." Discord teleported Heart outside. A tennis court had been set up and Discord not sported a pink polo and white short. A white cap toped the get up off.

"I was going to ask what you wanted to play but it seems I have my answer."

"I do enjoy a little tennis. You play any?"

Heart shook his head. "No I have never played. I have seen some matches but never did it myself."

"So you understand the rules?"

"Yeah I just haven't played."

"It is simple enough to learn." Discord snapped his fingers and a racket appeared in his hands. Another one lye on the grass next to Heart. Discord moved to his end of the court. "Get ready and I will serve first."

Heart levitated the racket and moved to his end. They began to play and Heart found out that the ball appeared to go a lot faster when you are the one swinging. Heart had trouble hitting it and when he did manage to hit it he was poor at aiming. If he managed to hit it, he hit it too hard. Heart wanted to take his mind off his horrible game. "I never saw you as a tennis player."

Discord hit the ball Heart's direction. "Well when you have to look the part of royalty there isn't a lot of things you can do. I can't go around making it rain chocolate milk all the time. It would make me look bad. You ponies have a bad enough image of me as it is."

"There is that golf like thing. You know? The one with the hammer and the little rings in the ground."

"Are you talking about croquet?"

"Yeah. I am sorry I am not up to date with my sports."

"Do you know how that is played? That is so boring. I do like golf though. You ever play that?"

"No I have not. I have wanted to. Never had the chance. Played mini golf but that doesn't count."

"Your right it doesn't count. How about we call this quits and play that instead?"

"Oh, thank you. I am terrible at this."

Discord laughed. "Yeah I can tell." With a snap Heart had a compete change in scenery. "This might be a little more your speed."

"You mean slow?"

"I wasn't saying that at all."

"I know. Show how it is done and I will follow your lead." Heart watched as Discord set up his ball before swinging and launching it across the field of grass. "You said that you thought croquet was boring. Doesn't most anything normal seem boring to you?"

Discord moved aside so that Heart could attempt to play. "I won't lie. Most days are dull but I would rather have it this way than the past."

Heart swung and managed to hit the golf ball. It didn't go far but he hit it. "Wow I am even surprised I hit that. What exactly do you enjoy more about now than back when your were free to do whatever you wanted?"

The two moved up while talking. "I do miss my absolute freedom but I now realize how wrong I was. I see that I hurt others when I do that. I don't want that. It started as me just liking some ponies and not wanting to upset them but when I took a role as a leader, I took responsibility for all of the ponies. I became more sympathetic towards all. In the past I was childish. I only cared about myself."

Heart didn't like the past but for a different reason. "Yeah the past sometimes is better left there but it serves a better purpose. It gives us perspective. We can see how we were and what needs to be changed. You can be proud of yourself now. You have changed for the better. The past is just a reminder to not fall from grace once more."

Discord thought about Tirek. How he had betrayed Celestia and his friends. "But I did. I failed everypony and succumbed to my want and betrayed my friends." Discord regretted every moment of the decision.

"Would you ever do it again?"

"No. Never."

"I will tell you the same thing I told Celestia. You didn't fail. You learned from a mistake. A failure is when you don't benefit at all. Making mistakes are one thing but failing is a whole other thing. Don't beat yourself up now. There isn't any point in it now."

The game progressed while Discord and Heart talked. It was a fun time for both participants. It was Heart's turn and lat go he managed to get his ball in a sand trap.

Heart lined up and swung. He hit the sand but missed the ball completely. He tried again. Again he failed. He started to become agitated after the fourth swing. He started just swiping the sand repeatedly. "WHY!… CAN'T!… I!… HIT!…. IT! He eventually gave up and took the ball and melted it with his magic. He looked at Discord and answered through pants. "I… need…a new… ball."

Discord held back his laughter. He placed the new ball on the grass. "Don't have a heart attack. It is just a game."

Heart swung and hit the ball. "I will be ok. That ball received a Heart attack. It deserved it."

"That was a horrible pun Heart."

Heart smiled. "Good thing I am not a comedian than."

A few weeks past and Heart managed another day free. He decided to get to know the rulers better. Today he picked Luna. He had some experience with all of the rulers but her. Heart had been around her and talked but it was always during some event or for work. He had never spent time with her as a friend.

It some time to look for her but eventually he found her outside near the garden. While he approached he heard her say something under her breathe. "Another beautiful day sister." She smiled looking at the flowers in the garden.

Heart took a seat across from her. "Hello Luna. I was told you are free today."

"Hello Heart. Yes that is true. What do you need?"

Heart looked at the wide variety of flowers and their numerous colors. "I wanted to spend some time with you. Get to know you more. It is a beautiful day today."

"You heard me didn't you?"

"Yes I did. I agree with you. Celestia creates some beautiful things."

"What do you think of my night?" Luna did not look for his approval but wanted to see if he would try to suck up to her.

"I would say I prefer the night. To be completely honest I don't favor either for their beauty. I have never found much beauty in nature. I only prefer the night because of the quiet. When every pony is asleep and I can do what I want without having to think if any pony is watching. If the day was like that than I would favor the day. To answer your question. I say the night holds it's own beauty but I don't care for it. I will leave the admiration to others. I hope this doesn't offend you but I won't lie about my opinion."

"You have done quite the opposite Heart. I wish you enjoyed my night but I respect your honesty. Most ponies just agree with whatever my colleagues and I say. It becomes annoying over time."

Heart had something he had been thinking about doing. He had not had the opportunity to play in a long time and hoped Luna wanted to do it. "Never did like suck ups. How about we talk over a game. I haven't played in a while and was wondering if you liked chess?"

Luna nodded. "I do. I bug Chaotic with it. It gets to him because he never wins."

"Does he get mad?"

"Oh no he just pretends to so that I will give him consolation." Heart raised an eyebrow. "Don't give me that look. I see Scootaloo's dreams. I know you know what I mean."

"Well how about we play a friendly game? Scootaloo doesn't enjoy losing all the time so I rarely get to play."

"I don't see why not."

Heart teleported a chess board an the table between them. It was a simple wooden board with wooden pieces of different color. "Let us begin than."

Luna went first.

Heart moved and began to talk. He didn't want it to seem competitive. "So I have a question." Luna looked up paying attention to Heart. "You said you see Scootaloo's dreams. Do you see mine?"

Luna was curious if Heart would ask about his dreams. "Heart, I know you see nothing when you sleep. You have me to thank for that. Otherwise you would have nightmares all the time."

"So I just don't have dreams? I thought that I just forgot them."

Luna resumed to play and looked away from Heart. "No Heart. I don't know why but you don't have dreams. I am sorry but that is the truth."

"What are my nightmares about?"

Luna shook her head. "I will not share them with you. I stopped you from seeing them for a reason. You have no need for them. They would only bring you pain."

Heart didn't like being denied something that was his. "But they are mine. I have the right to see or at least know about them."

Luna looked up from the board. "Why would you want to see them? Do you want to experience more pain? I have seen many of your dreams and I have sorted out what is imagination and what is memory. I do not know the whole story but I do know some things. I have seen a few of you memories of your mother and your brother. And a few about your father. Do you really want to relive those moments?"

Heart closed his eyes and shook his head. "No."

"Than don't pry where you have been told not to."

Heart left the discussion behind and talked about better things. "How is Moon Love?"

Luna always smiled when thinking of her child. "She is growing so fast. Such a beautiful little filly. I wish I could be with her right now but she needs to learn. I can't just interrupt her lessons when I want to see her."

Heart liked seeing Moon around. "She wants to be just like you, you know. She is adorable. She will do the kingdom proud one day."

"Thank you. You ever think about kids?"

"I have thought about it and I say no. I don't want kids."

"What? Why? It is great having children."

"I don't want Scootaloo weighted down like that. I want her to be able to go have an adventure or go out and have fun when she feels like it. She won't be able to do that if we have kids. You know what I mean?"

Luna made her move on the chess board then looked up at Heart. "Heart, I have been alive a long time. I have seen many ponies lie. You are a poor liar. You are afraid that you won't be a capable father. You are afraid you will fail any children you have. You are scared because you were never taught to be a father. You have to get past this. You are depriving Scootaloo of a dream. You are hurting her because you are afraid. You fail to see that you are in a better place than most to be a father. You are afraid which shows that you understand how much responsibility it is. You should have more confidence. You are a very capable pony." Luna looked back to the game. "I forgot to mention, checkmate."

Heart had been paying attention to Luna and hadn't notice it. "Wait, what!?" Heart tried to look for a way out. "Damn it. Rematch?"

Luna smiled. "Why not? You are good at this game, not as good as me but I have had a lot of practice."

Luna and Heart played a few more games before they went their separate ways. Heart thought about Luna's words.

Two years passed and Heart and Scootaloo stayed in Canterlot castle. Heart had become friends with all of the rulers. New branches of the Lantern program had popped up. All of the major cities had a Lantern program. It had been made possible because Celestia had given Heart more funding for it after seeing it's success in Ponyville. Celestia couldn't figure out why but whenever a Lantern program had been started shortly afterwards crime rates drastically dropped. Most of Equestria saw the Lanterns as a force of good. They were respected and trusted

Heart was in the throne room with the rulers. They were waiting on a business pony to present her case to them. Heart was surprised when the pony showed up.

It was Diamond Tiara. She walked in the room with confidence. She cleared her throat. "My esteemed leaders. I come here to ask for support. My businesses have been suffering this year and might go under if cannot get support. I want a tax reduction. It will benefit Equestria in the long run. My business are a large part of our economy and if we bankrupt Equestria would be unstable."

Celestia understood that these businesses were important. "How much do you need?"

"Half. If you cut them in half we would be able to ensure continuation."

Diamond Tiara had inherited her fathers business empire. She knew how much the businesses meant to the economy. The rulers put it to a vote. They all agreed to it. Heart had a different opinion. "She is lieing."

Discord looked to Heart. "How can you say that? How are you sure?"

"I can see it in her core. She hides it well but she is scared that we will see through this plan."

Diamond defended herself. "I am not lieing. Heart's Vision is sore about our past. He is trying to get back at me for when we young."

The rulers knew about Heart's past. He never told them about breaking her legs because it is a crime so to them he never got revenge. They sided with Tiara. They thought he was enacting his revenge.

Heart couldn't believe this. "I am not! I am telling the truth. She is a bad pony trying to use you."

Discord sighed. "Heart. You have to look beyond your past. It has been a long time since your school days. She has grown, let things be." He turned to Tiara. "You will have your support."

Tiara bowed. "Thank you." She walked away. As she left no pony could see her face. No pony could see her sinister smile.

Heart was enraged. He did not want to be seen. He teleported away. He was in the park in Ponyville. "Fucking bullshit! I know that bitch was lieing. Why won't they listen to me!" Heart cut down a tree with his magic.

He thought he was alone but Sun Petal was sitting on a bench reading. "Are you ok Heart?"

Heart turned. "Petal. I didn't see you. I am…" He was going to say fine but he stopped. "I am pissed. The rulers never listen to me. They made me an advisor but it seems that I am just standing there looking pretty. It is frustrating."

Petal hated seeing Heart upset. "Why do you think they don't listen to you?"

"I don't know."

"Who do they listen to?"

"They listen to Twilight. They listen to Cadence and Shining Armor. They all listen to the other rulers."

Petal put her hoof to her chin. "Hmm. Ah, I think I see the connection. They are all alicorns or in relationships with one. Maybe they don't see you as a equal."

"That does make some sense. I just need to become an alicorn than. Thanks for the help Petal." Heart teleported directly into the throne room. The rulers were talking but stopped when Heart appeared. "I want to ask something of you all."

Celestia was curious. "What do you wish Heart?"

"I have been with you a while now. I am thankful for you allowing me to become adviser but I feel that my talents are wasted here."

"What are you getting at Heart?"

"I want to be an alicorn."

The rulers look to each other. Worried looks were all around. Discord said what they were all thinking. "No."

"What?"

"No. You are not ready for such a responsibility."

"I am. I deserve this. I have started to create brand new spells. You gave me access to the restricted wings of the library. I have read and know there is ways to make me an alicorn but I would need your help. I can't do it on my own. Please give me this. I want to help."

Discord liked Heart but did not want to give such power to one he wasn't sure was ready. "Heart. I will say it again. No. You can help from where you are. There is few alicorns. They are seen as protectors and leaders. Until the time we know you are ready you will remain how you are. When you prove yourself we may gift you with immortality."

Heart was not done. "I want to protect ponies. I want to lead them down the path of good. I can handle it. I know I can."

"This is the last time I will say this. No. Now leave."

Heart grinded his teeth. He teleported away. He was in the same place as before. Petal still sat on the bench. "They denied me. They don't think I am ready. I am. I know that I am."

Petal thought the same. "Yes you are. I know you Heart. You are a wonderful leader. I think that they know that."

"What?"

"They know you are a great leader. They know you are a better leader than they are. They are afraid that you will put them to shame. They fear you Heart. Maybe you should be the one that leads Equestria. I am sorry Heart but I must get going. I don't have wings or magic so I must head to the train station. I am on the way to the Manehatten branch." Petal left Heart with his thought.

Her words echoed in his head. 'Maybe you should lead Equestria. Maybe you should lead Equestria. Maybe you should lead Equestria. Maybe I should lead Equestria.'

~ well DLB here and that doesn't sound good does it? oh well he cant be up to anything bad...can he? oh well we will all find out soon im sure! so keep reading! p.s. yes im still hiding in the background.~ DLB

A/N: He has been working with me it just seems he wants to not have A/Ns everywhere. It fine cause I can create enough for both us.~ Sci-fi